Opportunities for Residents to Participate in Clinical Research

The Visual Sciences Research Center features research in the areas of ocular immunology, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, and clinical areas of contact lens, corneal disease, diagnostic imaging, glaucoma, refractive surgery, retinal diseases, and other subspecialties. Many of these projects are supported by the National Eye Institute. The department, which includes expanded research facilities, has an active roster of faculty members who perform both bench and clinical research. Residents are invited to work closely with any faculty member on any new or ongoing research. There are also epidemiology and biostatistics experts available to help with grant proposals and project development. Further details are provided on the VSRC website.

All residents who are first author on a paper or who present a poster at national meetings receive departmental support. At the end of the year, there is an award for the Best Resident Research conducted during the year and presented at the VSRC symposium. Current and former residents have presented at AAO, ARVO, and international meetings in addition to publishing in the major Ophthalmology journals and online. Topics have included:

Ocular injuries due to paintballs

Age-related glycation products

Ocular GVHD

Pain associated with ischemic cranial nerve palsies

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

BB and Pellet Gun Related Injuries

Trapdoor fractures in children

Age-related macular degeneration

Corneal immunology

Apotosis of bovine retinal pericytes in high glucose concentrations

Eyelid Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

Corneal thickness and Fuchs’ dystrophy

Glaucoma and Fuchs’ dystrophy

Smoking and Fuchs’ dystrophy

Research Requirement Guidelines

Learn more about the expectations and requirements associated with participation in clinical ophthalmology research.

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